Thursday, 15 September 2011

A Glorious Gospel!



(i)            Outline why God's Gospel of grace is so glorious

The Gospel is glorious because it is Good News that speaks of a glorious God.

Firstly the Gospel speaks of a God who is so perfect and pure that we cannot reach up to Him. He’s too high, too holy. And as a just God he will not sweep our sin under the carpet. This is no compromised God that the Gospel speaks of.

Secondly the Gospel speaks of a God who is so loving that though we were unable to reach up to Him, He reached down to us in Christ, took our guilt and shame and gifts forgiveness and fellowship to all who will trust in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

That’s glorious Good News that speaks of a glorious God.


(ii)          What are the dangers of getting the Gospel wrong?

As the Gospel speaks of the very nature of God, getting the gospel wrong means getting our understanding of God wrong. We end up worshipping a god who is less than the true and living God revealed to us in Christ.

Secondly the Gospel not only speaks about the nature of God, but shows us the way to Him. Therefore our very salvation is at stake. See Galatians 1:6-12 for how seriously Paul took getting the Gospel right. To abandon the true Gospel is to abandon the true God.


(iii)     What safeguards should the Christian have in place to ensure ongoing faithfulness to the Gospel?

We should be people who love and value:

The Bible which reveals the true Gospel.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper which remind us of the Gospel.
A local Church which is nothing less than a Gospel community.

And we should be discerning; we would be wrong to assume that there are no false gospels being preached in our churches, or Christian books, or popular hymns today. We would also be wrong to assume that they are any less subtle or any less damaging than they were in the days Paul wrote to the church in Galatia.

The Good News is so good, so glorious, that we must guard it, treasure it, tell it, teach it and live in accordance with it!

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